Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-15

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The first table below shows changes in the total population of New York City from 1800 to 2000. The second and third tables show changes in the population of the five districts of the city (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Staten Island) over the same period.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

Student answer (Band 6.0)

The tables indicate the population of all five districts in NewYork city in years 1800,1900 and 2000. The second and third table depict the changes in population of Manhattan and other four districts. The population is given in both numbers and percentage.

Overall, the population of New York city increased by every passng year.For Manhattan the population increase was observed till 1900 which dropped in 2000. The other districts showed massive increase in population till year 2000.

In year 1800, the population of New York city was 79,216 which increased to 3,437,202 and rose to 8,008,185 in 2000.

Comparatively, the population of Manhattan in the year 1800 was 76%. A drop in population was seen reaching 54% and by 2000 the population dropped significantly to 19%.

Other districts showed a sharp rise in the population. In year 1800, the population stood at 24% (18,701) which nearly doubled to 46% and sharply rose to 81% in the year 2000.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You cover the main trends and include relevant figures: the city’s total population rose substantially, Manhattan’s share fell from 76% to 19%, and the other districts’ share grew from 24% to 81%. The overview also identifies Manhattan’s rise to 1900 followed by a decline, alongside continued growth elsewhere. This gives the response a clear summary of the key contrast. However, some comparisons are less fully developed: the Manhattan figures are presented mainly as percentages, and the response does not clearly explain that its population peaked at 1,850,093 in 1900 before falling to 1,538,096. Also, “nearly doubled” is inaccurate for the other districts’ share, which rose from 24% to 46%, just under doubling. More precise comparisons would strengthen the report.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction, an overview, and paragraphs reporting the total population and district comparisons. This makes the main information easy to locate. Linking expressions such as “Overall,” “Comparatively,” and “In year 1800” help signal the stages of the report, although some are repetitive or mechanical. The progression could be clearer if the district figures were grouped consistently by time period or if each district’s population and share were compared together. In “For Manhattan the population increase was observed till 1900 which dropped in 2000,” the reference of “which” is unclear, and the shift between population numbers and percentages is not always signposted. Use more precise referencing and transitions to make relationships between figures smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of reporting vocabulary, including “increased,” “dropped,” “massive increase,” and “sharp rise,” and the meaning is generally clear. However, some choices are imprecise or repetitive: “population” and “increase” recur frequently, while “nearly doubled” does not accurately describe the change from 24% to 46%. “By every passing year” is also awkward for data shown at three separate points, and “population of Manhattan … was 76%” confuses a population share with a population figure. Spelling and form errors such as “NewYork” and “passng” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise terms such as “proportion,” “accounted for,” and “declined,” and vary reporting language without overstating changes.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use both simple sentences and some more complex forms, including “which increased to 3,437,202 and rose to 8,008,185” and “which dropped in 2000.” Most sentences remain understandable, but some grammatical errors and punctuation problems are noticeable. For example, “The population is given in both numbers and percentage” has a number-agreement issue, and “For Manhattan the population increase was observed till 1900 which dropped in 2000” has an unclear clause structure. Several introductory time phrases need articles or more natural grammatical framing, as in “In year 1800.” Commas are also missing after some introductory phrases. Use clearer sentence structures and check articles, agreement, and punctuation to improve control.

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